The First day of Spring, 2010. How did we spend the first 40 minutes of it? We spent it watching New Moon, the second installment of the amazingly stoopid Twilight Series. Ugh.
The next eight hours of Spring, however, was spent in a car going all the way around Pinnacles National Monument.
Why?
Their Gift Shop closed last time! The Store is divided in two, one part run by the National Park Service, and the other part a private Concessionaire that sells food and climbing equipment.
So off we went again. A long time ago, we came up with the family motto: We go further for less. We were out to prove today.
With the recent rains, there are little ponds that have formed. Here is one right outside of San Juan Bautista.
So what was our first stop? We crashed a Wedding!
Immaculate Conception Church in Tres Pinos is a cute little church. There were a lot of cars outside, and some people wandering abouts. We took a look inside, and a wedding was going on!
Attention all Traditional Priests: It appears the High Altar is still in place in the back. Just need a Communion Rail!
Never mind the wedding, kids! Look! Skydivers!
Don't know what these cows were doing. Maybe one of their secret cow meetings.
Tree Hugger Monica kisses a tree. No Ego problem here. We finally made it to Pinnacles with an open Gift Shop!!!
Now we proceeded to go further south on Highway 25 from Pinnacles, going towards King City. Here is one tree on a hill in the vast emptiness of San Benito County.
Kids always wanted their picture on the County Line. No traffic here.
Tresspasser Monica.
Attention Law Enforcement and Loner Farmer with a Shotgun: She's only pretending to tresspass.
We them proceeded to have a snack in King City, and went on our way to Mission San Antonio.
The Sanctuary of Mission San Antonio. Notice the three altars just like in many of the Missions.
Fountain in the Courtyard.
Crosses and roof of the Mission.
Wild Flowers in Spring.
These are figure heads from ships that brought the Friars to California and docked in San Diego, Santa Barbara, Monterey, or San Francisco. The trip would often begin in Acapulco. There is the story of one Friar who was supposed to go to California from Acapulco. He got on the wrong ship and ended up in the Phillipines. He just stayed in the Phillipines!
The Friars would put these Figure Heads around the front of the Church in gratitude for having made it safely to California.
Hey, First Catholic Wedding in California took place right here in Mission San Antonio.
Fort Hunter Liggett surrounds Mission San Antonio, and is an active training groun for troops. A convoy passed us on the way out.
The kids on top of a Sheridan Tank by the entrance to the Fort.
A very nice day except for one thing... Our Gift Shop curse continues!
We got to the Mission late, and the Gift Shop had closed. Now we have to go again!
Where will we go in the vast emptiness of San Benito County next? How about the New Idria Mines!
I wish that we could have gotten to know you better, Andrew, but things always seemed to get in the way, little things that now seem inconsequential. As is most often the case, your friends gave a fine testimony of how your life impacted all those around you, and what a kind and humerous person you were. We will miss that about you.
I also know you loved nature. I hope that these pictures will remind me once in a while of you.
Speakers that you made yourself.
We will always pray for your soul, Andrew. We pray that the Lord Jesus Christ look upon and grant you a place of refreshment, happiness, light, and peace. 
We are sad that some friends are not with us on this hike! We were told not to have fun on this hike by some friends who could not be with us, so here is everybody trying their best to cope.
